Pyrotechnical device



Aug. 11, 1925. 1 1,549,485

W. F. GEHRIG PYROTECHNICAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1 925 f NEW JnR'sEY.

Toallwhom it may concern; a

:Be it known that I, WILLIAM F, GEHR'IG, a citizen of the United States, residingat Berkeley Heights, in the county of Union and State of New'J ersey', have invented certain new and 'usefullmprove'ments in Pyrot'eohnical Devices and I- do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such 1 as will enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make anduse thesame, reference being had-' to the accompanying. drawings, and to characters of reference'markedthere- O11,Wl1l0h form apart'of this speeificatlon; This invention relates, enerally, wim provements in pyroteohnical devices; and the invention has f reference, I more partlcularly, to a novel .pyrotechnical device in the form of a'torpedo-"adapted to be fired by percussion. v f a f Theinvention has for its principal obwork-"torpedo adapted ftobe; set oif by permeeting, and adapted, when ithus ignited, ,to' 'produceai series or intermittent succession of detonations','thusproviding a repeating torpedo of novel and pleasing effect which will operate for a comparatively long time 'after it is ignited. I J Other objects of this invention, not at this time, more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood; from the following detailed description of'the same,

With the various objects of this invention 'in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel repeating percussion torpedo hereinafter .set forth, and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrange- -mentsand combinations of the several deing specification, and then finally embodied ject to; provide a' novel construction of fire-'- Vices" and} parts, all? of which a, will be hereinafter more fully described intheifollow- F-ECE.

1 WILLIAM}. annals; or BERKELEY nEIGHTsjnEw 'Jnnsny, essienon 'roinssnic SPECIALTY '00., mo erBE EL -H I HTS, new JERSEY, AconronArro or :rYRoT onivioAL :onvrcn' V l i V Application'file d February 16,1925; Serial No. 9,481."

outer Icover unfolded to disclose one ,form of pyrotechnical element; Figure S'is alsimilar perspective View, v,With the said pyrotech nical element opened. to disclose the neans for, igniting the pyrotechnical element by percussion; Figure 4 is a'perspectivegview ofone form of pyroteohnicalelement; Fig ure'5is. a part side elevation andfpart sce tion of a modified"form'and ar'rangement of pyrotechnical' element. and percussion pro- ,duoing means; and Figure 6 iS ia perspective view and part section; With the outer};co;ver ing unfolded, illustrating another fmodified form and arrangement of PYDOtQChIIlOiLlgBlG ment and percussion producinglmeans.

'Similaiicharacteis of reference arev em ployeduin the above. d6SOIlb6d;-Yl9iWS,,.l30; indicatecorresponding.parts.- T j' Referring tosaid 1dra Tings, the reference character 1 indicates the complete torpedo; made according .tojand. embodying the prin ciples of this: invention Inorie arrangement, said-torpedo l consists of; a 2 percussion producing means '2 in theffornrjof, an integral hard body or mass,fsuch as-afStone, marble or the like; wrapped aroundsaid percussion producing; ineans 2 is afcombnstible carrier sheet 3, preferably madefof thin paper, such astissue paper, uponiwhich are caused-to adhere a pluralityof p-astiles or lozenges .4, consisting" of a pyrotechnical composition adapted'to produce detonations when ignited by percussion. It will, of course, be understood that'there are many different pyrotechnical compositions known to those skilled in the art which, when thus ignited, willproduce explosions o r; detonations, and consequently, inijthis respect, I- do not desire to limit 1 myself *toL-the use of anyparticular composition so character-1 ized, although I.-;prefer to employ a acornposition heretofore "known and Quseld ,to produce intermittent. detonations;fl, zand which comprises awmixture .vof' fgumarabic, carbonate ofv magnesium,l white phosphorus, red oche'riand potassium chlo-v rate. Q The vpa'stiles or lozenges 4 ,of'pyr'o; technical: composition are arranged. infia group upon said carrier sheetS, th mem closed by twisting its free edges together,

bers of which are suitably spaced apart. It is preferable to treat the paper or other carrier sheet 3 with some chemical adapted to insure continued combustion thereof once the same is ignited. A chemical such as saltpeter may be employed for such purpose, although I do not limit myself to the use of that substance for the purpose. The carrier sheet 3, with its group of detonatable pastilesor lozenges a, is wrapped around the percussion means 2 so as to enclose the same, the same being retained in such enclosing relation, by twisting its free edges together, as at 5, or by securing said edges together in any other suitable manner. When the carrier sheet 3 and percussion means 2 are thus operatively assembled together, the

same are preferably enclosed in an outer covering or jacket 6, preferably made of thintissue paper or like material, which is caused to envelop the assembled carrier sheet .3 and percussion means 2, and which 1s as at 7, or by securing said edges together in any other suitable manner.

The device, constructed as above described, is ready for use, and may be discharged or ignited by throwing the same forcibly against any rigid or relatively hard surface, such, for example, as a side walk or pavement.

sheet will be interposed between the percussion means 2 andthe surface against which the torpedo is thrown, and consequently will receive the impact of the percussion means, thereby discharging or igniting such pastiles or lozenges. Combustion being thus started, the pastiles or lozenges will discharge to produce a series of intermittent explosions or detonations, which, as combustion spreads throughout the carrier sheet 3, will be continued until all the pastiles or lozenges are consumed. It will, therefore, be apparent that a very novel effect is produced, and one of relatively long duration, thus making the device highl y entertaining and amusing.

The same novel effects and advantages above recited may be obtained by means of somewhat modified arrangements and con- In one such' structions of the torpedo. modified form, which I have illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the carrier sheet 3 may be omitted, and a plurality of unmounted or free lozenges or pastiles 8 of the pyrotechnical composition may be produced and mixed together with a mass of loose granular percussion material 9, such as ravel or coarse sand, in such manner that. t e lozenges or pastiles 8 are interspersed throughout themassof such percussion ma terial. The materials thus prepared are enclosed in a covering or jacket 10 of tissue paper, suitably secured in such enclosing relation. Upon throwing such modified form When thus thrown, one. or more pastiles or lozenges 4 on the carrier of torpedo against a relatively hard surface, the impact of the percussion material 9 with the lozenges or pastiles will set oif the latter, which will thereupon ignite and burn, and during combustion produce the intermittent detonations or explosions until consumed.

In another modification of my novel torpedo, I utilize the carrier sheet 3 with the group of pyrotechnical pastiles or lozenges l adhering thereto, but instead of employing an integral PGIOUSSlOlTlTlQELIlS'2, such as a stone,marble or the like, I use percussion material '11 in the forni-of a mass of loose granular material, such as gravel, coarse sand or the like, which is enveloped'by the carrier sheet when the same is suitably wrapped and secured around the mass of percussion material. I prefer toenolose the assembled carried sheet 3 and percussion material 11 in :an outer covering sheet or jacket 6,.in the manner hereinbefore stated. Upon throwing the torpedo against a relatively hard surface, the pastiles or lozenges 4 will be ignited by the impact therewithof said percussion material 11, and the novel pyrotechnical effects already above described will be obtained.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the parts making up my novel torpedo, as well as in the details of the 'constructionand composition of the said parts, without departing from the scope of the invention :as above set forth, and as defined in the follow- :100 ing claims. Hence, I do not limit myself 'to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts as @described :in the foregoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the1g105 said parts a illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim -1. A torpedo of the kind described comprising a combustible carrier sheet havingmllO a group of separated lozenges of detonating pyrotechnical composition secured thereto, and a percussion material around which said carrier sheet is enveloped.

2. A torpedo comprising a combustiblerillfi carrier sheet having a plurality of lozenges of detonating pyrotechnical composition a'dhering thereto, a percussion material, said carrier sheet being wrapped around said percussion material to enclose the same .120 therein, and an outer acketing wrapper exteriorly enveloping the assembled carrier sheet and percussion material.

3'. A torpedo comprising a combustible earriersheet having a: plurality of lozenges 1 5 of detonating pyrotechnical composition adhering thereto in grouped relation, a relatively hard percussion body, and said carrier sheet being wrapped around said body to enclose the same therein.

tel-paid eo mpfis ing a comb'us t ible carrier sheet having. a, plurality. of lozenges "1 Y of detonating' pyrotechni'cal composition ad 7 l "hering therefio in grduped relation, a; re'la 6 Lively-hard percussionpb'odyysaid carrier v f sl leet being wrapped around said body V to" 3 enclo'se the same therein; and an outer, jack- Jig etirig Wrapper exteriorly enveloping the 5 j sembledv carrier sheet and ercusslon bpidyi i In testimony, that I clalm the invention. 1. v I: setforthabove I ham 7e hereunto set myhamd Y 5th'day of anu'ary, 1925 

